Although a gifted skater, Pelyk struggled with inconsistency early in his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the 1973-74 season he seemed to be finally reaching his potential, leading Leaf defensemen with 12 goals,[1] when he was lured away from the Leafs with a million-dollar contact to the Vancouver Blazers of the WHA. However, he was never quite able to return to the potential shown in the 73-74 season either in his two years in the WHA, or with his return to the NHL with the Maple Leafs in 1976. After two years alternating between the NHL and CHL he retired in 1978.[2][3]

Mike Pelyk was captain of the WHA Cincinnati Stingers for the 1975-76 season.[4]